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Old Mutual is a firm believer in the African opportunity and our diverse talent reflects this.

Job Description

ROLE OVERVIEW

As an Agile Project Manager for Old Mutual Bank, you will oversee the planning, execution, and delivery of key projects within the bank’s transformation journey. This role involves working closely with cross-functional teams to ensure projects are delivered on time, within scope, and aligned with the strategic objectives of the bank while fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and innovation while guiding teams in the Agile methodology to achieve project goals aligned with the bank's vision.

KEY RESPONSILITIES

Project Planning and Execution

Define project scope, objectives, and deliverables in collaboration with stakeholders.Develop comprehensive project plans, including timelines, budgets, resource allocation, and risk management strategies.Oversee project execution to ensure alignment with goals and compliance with Old Mutual’s standards.

Stakeholder Management

Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders to ensure alignment and collaboration.Act as the primary point of contact for project updates, status reports, and issue resolution.Facilitate communication between technical teams, business units, and external partners.Collaborate with Product Owners to ensure the backlog is well-defined, prioritized, and aligned with business objectives.Act as a bridge between development teams and stakeholders, ensuring clear communication and managing expectations.

Risk and Issue Management

Identify project risks, dependencies, and potential roadblocks and assist in resolving these or escalating if required.Develop and implement mitigation plans to address challenges proactively.Monitor project progress and escalate issues to senior management as necessary.

Budget and Resource Management

Track and manage project budgets, ensuring effective use of resources.Allocate tasks and responsibilities to team members, ensuring workloads are balanced and deadlines are met.Work with HR and leadership to address any capacity or skill gaps.

Performance Monitoring and Reporting

Establish KPIs to track project success and progress.Prepare detailed status reports for senior management and stakeholders.Conduct post-project evaluations to identify lessons learned and areas for improvement.

Agile and Change Management

Foster an Agile project delivery environment, ensuring flexibility and adaptability in managing changes.Partner with Change Management teams to support smooth transitions for new processes, systems, and tools.Lead and facilitate Agile ceremonies such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.Ensure adherence to Agile principles and practices, adapting them to suit the unique needs of the bank.

REQUIREMENTS

Education:

Bachelor’s degree in Project Management, Business Administration, or a related field.Certification in Project Management (e.g., PMP, PRINCE2, or Agile certifications such as PMI-ACP, SAFe).Certified Scrum Master (CSM) or equivalent Agile certifications (e.g., SAFe Scrum Master, PSM).

Experience:

5–8 years of experience managing large-scale, complex projects, preferably in banking, financial services, or fintech.Proven success in managing technology-driven projects and working with cross-functional agile teams in complex, high-paced environments, preferably in banking or fintech.

Technical Skills:

Proficiency in project management tools (e.g., MS Project, JIRA, or Smartsheet).Knowledge of software development lifecycle and Agile frameworks.Familiarity with financial systems, regulations, and compliance requirements.

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit.

Facilitate the Agile Scrum process and ensure that teams adhere to its principles and practices. Manage the teams' workflow and ensure that they have all the resources they need to complete their work. Work closely with the Product Owner to ensure that the product backlog is well-defined, prioritized, and refined. Lead scrum ceremonies such as daily stand-up meetings, sprint planning, sprint review, and sprint retrospective. Identify and remove impediments that may prevent the teams from achieving their goals and work towards continuous improvement of the teams and processes.

ResponsibilitiesAgile Development Team Facilitation

Lead Scrum ceremonies, remove obstacles, and facilitate problem-solving, collaboration, and conflict resolution to enable the most effective work delivery by development teams on medium-sized projects.

Agile Release Planning

Plan and replan software releases for large projects or programs as they are produced to ensure timely updates and to deliver the planned benefits as early as possible in the project or program.

Agile Backlog Management

Review the backlog of work for a small project and reprioritize the work and deployment of project resources to reduce costs and increase the value of the work delivered to the business.

Culture of Innovation

Define the execution plan to disseminate innovative capabilities across the businesses, helping people develop these competencies and enabling them to innovate through solutions such as idea generation platforms, jam sessions, and hackathons.

Digital Strategy/Transformational Projects Execution

Lead execution of the digital road map, establishing and managing business processes, programs, and projects, resource allocation, key performance indicators (KPIs), and governance activities.

Project Risk and Issue Management

Manage identification of risks, issues, dependencies, and constraints associated with the project, escalating these matters where appropriate. Where necessary, develop, agree on, and implement solutions to overcome these concerns.

Data Collection and Analysis

Collate and analyze data using preset tools, methods, and formats. Involves working independently.

Work Scheduling and Allocation

Develop short- or medium-term work schedules in order to achieve planned commitments. Approve overtime or use additional resources as needed.

Project Resource Management

Manage the deployment of project resources, proactively managing project costs, providing forecasts, and presenting variances with narrative at appropriate review points to ensure effective utilization.

Project Planning

Produce workstream or project plans, ensuring that all activities are identified, are appropriately organized to deliver project objectives, and comply with the organization's project management framework.

Performance Management

Develop and propose own performance objectives; take appropriate actions to ensure achievement of agreed objectives, using the organization's performance management systems to improve personal performance. Or manage and report on team performance; set appropriate performance objectives for direct reports or project/account team members and hold people accountable for achieving them, taking appropriate corrective action where necessary to ensure the achievement of team/personal objectives.

Personal Capability Building

Develop own capabilities by participating in assessment and development planning activities as well as formal and informal training and coaching; gain or maintain external professional accreditation, where relevant, to improve performance and fulfill personal potential. Maintain an in-depth understanding of technology, external regulation, and industry best practices through ongoing education, attending conferences, and reading specialist media.

Skills

Adaptive Thinking, Agile Project Management, Backlog Management, Budget Management, Change Management, Oral Communications, Prioritization, Project Communications Management, Project Estimations, Project Performance Management (PM), Project Quality Assurance, Project Resource Management, Project Schedule Management, Project Scope Management

Competencies

Business InsightCollaboratesCommunicates EffectivelyCultivates InnovationDecision QualityDirects WorkDrives EngagementDrives Results

Education

NQF Level 9 – Masters

Closing Date

03 April 2025 , 23:59

The appointment will be made from the designated group in line with the Employment Equity Plan of Old Mutual South Africa and the specific business unit in question.

The Old Mutual Story!